Applications for your first job after finishing medical school have always been competitive, with some students invariably failing to get their first choice. Formerly, a combination of application forms, CVs, and interviews were used by consultants to select the most able candidates for UK jobs.

This article gives guidance on how to construct a successful application based on the most recent UK system. This advice is also relevant for programmes in other countries,1 which require similar personal statements, such as the Electronic Residency Application Service2 in the United States and the Canadian Resident Matching Service.3

Since October 2005 UK medical students reaching the end of their training apply for posts in the foundation training programme using anonymous proformas, which are scored using predetermined criteria. There are no interviews, and offers are made to the applicants who score highest. The process has stirred up much debate, which has spilled over into